The colder weather of the past week has put ice cover on most northern lakes, but ice thickness was only in the 1- to 3-inch range. This is not considered safe for ice travel as there are still many areas that may have much thinner ice, such as inlet, outlet and mid-lake areas. However, there have been a few early ice anglers creeping out onto shallow bay areas, but success has been generally slow with no reports yet of any catches being made.The recent heavy snows may cause some slush to form, which will further weaken this thin, early ice.
Upper Chippewa Basin fisheries report (Price, Rusk, Sawyer Taylor and inland Ashland and Iron counties) -
The seasonably cold weather of the past week has put ice cover on most local lakes ? but ice thickness was only in the 1 to 3 inch range as of December 8. This is not considered safe for ice travel as there are still many areas that may have much thinner ice, such as inlet, outlet and mid-lake areas. However, there have been a few early ice anglers creeping out onto shallow bay areas, but their success has been generally slow with no reports yet of any catches being made. Early-ice anglers should also be warned that the recent heavy snows may cause some some slush, which will further weaken this thin, early-season ice.
Upper Wisconsin Basin fisheries report (Oneida, Vilas, Lincoln, Langlade, Forest and Florence counties) -
All area lakes skimmed over with a thin sheet of ice during the weekend of Dec. 5. Large, deep lakes such as Trout Lake (Vilas County), and Lake Tomahawk (Oneida County) still had open patches of water. Ice is building fairly quick and a couple anglers have begun venturing out on shallow bays. There should be more opportunities to find safe ice starting the weekend of December 12, but local conditions should be checked out carefully prior to making a trip out. Heavy snows predicted this week could also hamper ice conditions - the ice is not thick enough to support much snow at this time, which will cause a slushy mess and weaken the little ice we have at this time.
Lake Michigan fisheries team report
Sheboygan County ?
In Sheboygan shore anglers have been catching a few rainbows and browns on both spawn and crankbaits in the marina. In the Sheboygan River anglers have been catching browns and a few steelhead up to the Kohler dam. Most fish have been taken on flies and spawn.
Ozaukee County -
Shore anglers in Port Washington have been catching a few browns and rainbows near the power plant and in the north slip. Both skein and spawn sacs produced fish
Milwaukee County -
In Milwaukee boaters have been catching decent numbers of browns in and around the harbor. Shore anglers have been catching a few browns on spawn behind the Summerfest grounds and in the Menomonee River at the MMSD offices. Some browns and steelhead have been caught in the Milwaukee River in Kletzsch Park, with small flies and spawn both producing.
Racine County -
Shore anglers fishing in the Racine harbor have been catching a few browns. Crankbaits and spawn have produced the most fish. On the Root River, water levels are good, and all areas of the river have been holding good numbers of browns and steelhead. Small egg imitation flies have taken the most fish, but wooley buggers and egg sucking leeches have produced as well. Spawn drifted through deeper pools has also taken a fair number of fish.
Kenosha County -
In Kenosha a few browns have been active in the Small Boat Harbor. Both small white tube jigs and spawn have been productive.
